1:3 Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all
comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be
able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we
ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ
abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 6 Now
if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which
is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we
are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. 7 And our
hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers
of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Red Green was famous for his little speech at the end of
every show where he would give some (often humorous) advice to men and then say
"Keep your stick on the ice, we're all in this together."
Any time you join a group or a team or pursue a goal others
have gone before you. They have been where you are and have been where you are
headed. As Paul opens this next letter to the Corinthians he wants them to know
that they are not alone in their suffering. They are not facing anything new
even though it may be new to them.
Paul has faced it continually and Jesus even more. When
writing a personal letter to Timothy as a young preached just starting out he
said "All those who desire to live Godly lives in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution."
To suffer as a Christian is not a maybe. It's a definite. You
have taken sides with the Enemy of the one who fancies himself the ruler of
this world. He (Satan) will come at you from every angle available to him
including your own self. Paul doesn't gloss this over as some
"Christian" teachers do today. Instead he embraces it and then points
out the end result. Jesus "who for the joy that was set before Him endured
the cross, despising it's shame and is sat down at the right hand of the
Father." There was nothing exciting or enjoyable about the cross. The joy
for Jesus was the results. He was looking beyond the suffering to the
consolation. This journey is hard but the destination is out of this world! Pun
fully intended.
In his
letter to the Thessalonians Paul wrote that as Christians we don't need to
grieve like others who have no hope when our loved ones die. Then he talked
about the return of Jesus and the resurrection and meeting Him in the air and
when he was done looking forward to the great hope we have he said
"Therefore comfort one another with these words."
When Jesus
was facing the cross God sent Moses and Elijah to talk to Him and comfort Him.
Both of them had suffered much and had known great defeat in this life but they
made it through. They came to remind Him that on the other side of the dark
valley He was about to enter their was a destination of joy unspeakable and
full of glory. He was going Home. And not only that, He was making a way for
all His children to come Home with Him.
Are you
suffering for Christ? As sure as the suffering came, so will the joy. The
journey ends at Home. :)
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